Shrewsbury’s $4.4M school budget shortfall raises concern

Town and school officials were unable to reach a consensus on how to tackle a looming $4 million school budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.

Superintendent Joseph M. Sawyer told a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee Wednesday night that his original fiscal 2014 budget request of $54.28 million — an additional $4.4 million over the current budget — sought to restore 21 full-time positions, reduce class sizes and maintain the current curriculum. Town Manager Daniel J. Morgado proposed a fiscal 2014 school budget of $50.22 million.

“It’s clear that, given the current fiscal constraints, the town won’t have sufficient resources to meet this request,” Mr. Sawyer said. He stated that, at a minimum, the district needs a budget increase of $2.8 million to maintain current school programs and class sizes. He noted the lower amount does not represent a change in the current request and said the School Committee is meeting next week to revise its budget.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Maurice M. DePalo said the current rate of annual increases in the school budget is unsustainable.

“We have a revenue problem and we have a spending problem,” Mr. DePalo said. “We’re not going to get $5 million increases in revenue every year.”

Mr. DePalo also rejected the idea of a Proposition 2-1/2 override saying that, even if voters were to pass it, it would only solve the school’s budget issues for one year.

School Committee member Jason F. Palitsch said many of the increased expenses are mandated and outside of the school district’s control.

“In terms of per-pupil expenditure, we’re an extremely lean district,” Mr. Palitsch said. He cautioned the school district’s performance is in jeopardy if it isn’t adequately funded. “When you get into cutting programs and curriculum, you’re playing an extremely dangerous game.”

Finance Committee member Bretta M. Karp asked what the solution is if tax overrides and new commercial development aren’t the answer. “This is like a problem with no solution,” Mr. DePalo said.

School Committee member B. Dale Magee said the community needs to look at its priorities and ask itself what it’s willing to do to maintain its investment in education.